Chey Tae-won calls for return to basics as SK marks 73rd anniversary

Apr 09, 2026, 09:46 am

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SK Group held a “Memorial Day” event on April 8 to honor the management philosophies of the late founder Chey Jong-gun and former chairman Chey Jong-hyun on its 73rd anniversary. The photo shows Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group. / SK

Chey Tae-won emphasized a return to founding principles as SK Group marked its 73rd anniversary with a private “Memorial Day” event.

According to industry sources on April 8, SK held the closed-door event at Seonhye Won in Seoul to honor the late founder Chey Jong-gun and former chairman Chey Jong-hyun. The event was attended by Chey Tae-won, SK SUPEX Council Chairman Chey Chang-won, and CEOs of major affiliates.

The gathering comes at a time when SK is undergoing a major strategic transition amid prolonged macroeconomic uncertainties such as high interest rates and currency volatility. The event was seen as an opportunity to revisit the group’s founding spirit and reassess future strategies.

Seonhye Won, where the event took place, is a historically significant site where the founder once lived and led SK’s early growth. Recently remodeled, it now serves as a research space for SK’s unique management system, SKMS (SK Management System), symbolizing the connection between the group’s past, present, and future.

The event reportedly lasted about two to three hours. An industry official said Memorial Day serves not only as a tribute to past leaders but also as a moment to reaffirm the group’s founding values.

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The late Chey Jong-gun (top left) and the late Chey Jong-hyun (bottom center). / Yonhap, SK

Beyond commemoration, the event is notable for coinciding with SK’s ongoing high-intensity portfolio restructuring. The group is selling non-core assets and strengthening financial stability while focusing on key growth areas such as semiconductors—particularly HBM (high-bandwidth memory)—and building an artificial intelligence value chain.

Observers note that this strategic direction aligns with SK’s longstanding management philosophy. Founder Chey Jong-gun stressed bold execution under the principle of contributing to national development through business, while Chey Jong-hyun later advanced a human-centered management approach and established SKMS during the oil shock era.

The emphasis on talent as a core management asset has become a cornerstone of SK’s corporate culture, influencing initiatives such as training programs, overseas education, and autonomous organizational systems.

This philosophy continues under Chey Tae-won, who has also highlighted corporate social responsibility and economic contributions. He currently serves as chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and as chair of the APEC CEO Summit.

Industry observers expect the Memorial Day event to strengthen internal cohesion, as SK reflects on its founding spirit of challenge and innovation while preparing for the future.

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Chey Tae-won, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, delivers a commemorative speech at the 53rd Commerce Day ceremony held at the KCCI in Jung-gu, Seoul, on March 31. / Yonhap